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Winners of the United Nations World Oceans Day 2020 Photo Competition

By Ian Bongso-Seldrup

DPG is very pleased to announce the winners and finalists of the Seventh Annual United Nations World Oceans Day Photo Competition, jointly organized by the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea Office of Legal Affairs, World Ocean Network, Oceanic Global, Blancpain and DPG. The judges were tasked with selecting 1st, 2nd and 3rd place images from hundreds of entries in 10 categories. A 2020 World Oceans Day Theme winner was also selected by the organizers. The winners were announced by the judges during the UN World Oceans Day 2020 Virtual Event.

Congratulations to Joanna Smart, whose winning image in the World Oceans Day 2020 theme category “Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean” was the overall winner; to the other category winners, Leighton Lum (“Rejuvenation”), Hannes Klostermann (“Underwater Seascapes”), Michael Gallagher (“Underwater Life”), Geo Cloete (“Above Water Seascapes”), Renata Romeo (“Human Interaction: Making a Difference”), Sirachai Arunrugstichai (“Clean Our Ocean”), Francisco Sedano (“Digital Ocean Photo Art”), Kyla McLay (“Youth”), and Matthew Potenski (“Science in Action: Ocean Decade 2021—2030”); and to all the runners-up. The winners were announced by the judges during the UN World Oceans Day 2020 Virtual Event.

The contest partners would like to thank competition curator Ellen Cuylaerts and the judges—Adriana Basques, Adam Hanlon, Jill Heinerth, Darren Jew, Jane Morgan, Amos Nachoum, Miriam Stein Battles, David Salvatori, and John Thet—as well as theme category “Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean” judge Jim Standing. The organizers congratulate all of the winners again and would like to thank everyone who participated. Thank you for sharing your work, and helping us convey the beauty, fragility and value of the oceans.

2020 World Oceans Day Theme Winner

© Joanna Smart (Australia). 2020 World Oceans Day Theme Winner and Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean — Winner

Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean

© Edwar Herreño (Colombia). Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean — 2nd Place

© Franck Gazzola (France). Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean — 3rd Place

Rejuvenation

© Leighton Lum (USA). Rejuvenation — Winner

© Flavio Vailati (Italy). Rejuvenation — 2nd Place

© Lluís Masuet (Spain). Rejuvenation — 3rd Place

Underwater Seascapes

© Hannes Klostermann (Germany). Underwater Seascapes — Winner

© Yung-Sen Wu, Underwater Seascapes — 2nd Place

© Matthew D. Meier (USA). Underwater Seascapes — 3rd Place

Underwater Life

© Michael Gallagher (UK). Underwater Life — Winner

© Greg Volger (USA). Underwater Life — 2nd Place

© Celia Kujala (USA). Underwater Life — 3rd Place

Above Water Seascapes

© Geo Cloete (South Africa). Above Water Seascapes — Winner

© Marcin Zajac (Poland). Above Water Seascapes — 2nd Place

© Simon Hilbourne (UK). Above Water Seascapes — 3rd Place

Human Interaction: Making a Difference

© Renata Romeo (Italy). Human Interaction: Making a Difference — Winner

© Dave Valencia (USA/Mexico). Human Interaction: Making a Difference — 2nd Place

© Sirachai Arunrugstichai (Thailand). Human Interaction: Making a Difference — 3rd Place

Clean Our Ocean

© Sirachai Arunrugstichai (Thailand). Clean Our Ocean — Winner

© Joe Daniels (UK). Clean Our Ocean — Runner-up

Digital Ocean Photo Art

© Francisco Sedano (Spain). Digital Ocean Photo Art — Winner

© Galice Hoarau (France). Digital Ocean Photo Art — 2nd Place

© Víctor Núñez (Spain). Digital Ocean Photo Art — 3rd Place

Youth

© Kyla McLay (USA). Youth — Winner

© Ankit Kumar (Singapore). Youth — 2nd Place

© Jasmin Pegge (UK). Youth — 3rd Place

Science in Action

© Matthew Potenski (USA). Science in Action — Winner

© Franck Gazzola (France). Science in Action — 2nd Place

© David Palfrey (UK). Science in Action — 3rd Place

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